Flametight switch housing



Patented Aug. 29, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Grouse-Hinds Company,

Syracuse, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application July 13, 1936, Serial No. 90,320

3 Claims.

This invention relates to explosion resisting or flame tight housings for electrical switches and the like. The housing is particularly adapted to enclose switches and circuit breakers of comparatively large current carrying capacity, and an object of the invention is an explosion resisting housing of minimum weight, but of suflicient strength to meet the requirements of a fitting of this type.

A further object of the invention is a fitting of the type referred to which is of such structure that it can be readily and conveniently installed, and the complete interior of the fitting exposed for manipulation of the heavy wiring and the installation of switches or circuit breakers.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means to prevent exposure of the interior of the device while the switch or circuit breaker is in on position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the parts of the fitting, when assembled, are in flame tight relationship and such relationship does not depend upon the skill of the workman assembling the fitting.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional View of the housing with one end section thereof partly in elevation.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view, partly in section.

The invention comprises generally, an explosion resisting switch housing including a pair of end sections, means for maintaining the end sections in spaced apart relationship and in axial alinement, the means connecting the end sections also serving as a switch or circuit breaker support. The invention further includes a tubular body section sleeva'ble over one of the end sections and having its ends coacting with the end section in flame tight relationship thereto, and means carried by one of the end sections and operable from the outside thereof to actuate the switch into on and ofi position. One or both of said end sections are provided with conduit receiving passages and with means operable to prevent removal of the tubular body section when the switch is in on position The housing is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 as being mounted in a vertical position. The upper and lower end sections Iii, ii, are substantially cylindrical in form, and the upper end section is provided with a leg or boss ii! for the purpose of securing the housing to the wall, or a support l3. The upper end section is further provided with a depending annular flange i4 having an outer cylindrical surface. The lower end section H is connected to the upper section and supported by a plurality of rod members l5. These rod mem- V10 bers l5 also provide a convenient means of supporting the switches or circuit breakers l6, as will be hereinafter explained. The lower end section is formed, or provided, with an outwardly flaring flange ll extending in a general direction toward )5 the upper end section Ill. That is. the outer surface of the flange l l is tapered outwardly and upwardly.

One of the end sections, such as the lower section II, is provided with means operable from the outside thereof to actuate the switch into on and off positions. This means comprises a rock shaft l8 journalled in the bottom of the end section and to the outer end of which is secured an operating manual H3. The upper end is provided with a. crank member 20 which operatively engages the movable handle 22 of the switch it. The arrangement of this mechanism is such that when the manual I9 is oscillated, as indicated by the arrow Figure 3, the handle 22 of the switch it is moved or oscillated about its pivot to actuate the switch into on or off position. Preferably four rods #5 are employed to connect the end sections H), H, and cross members 24 are attached to two or more of the rod members and provide a support to which the switches l6 are attached.

The housing is completed by a tubular body section 23, one end of which is provided with a bore to form a tight sliding fit with the flange M of the end section H3, and the other end is J10 provided with a tapered bore complemental to the outer surface of the flange ll. The flanges l4, H, are of such relative dimensions that the tubular body section 23 may be sleeved upwardly over the flange H, the upper end of the body encircling the flange I4. It will be observed that when the tubular body section 23 is moved upwardly until the bore of the lower end thereof coacts with the flange IT, a flame tight joint is established between the ends of the tubular body and the flanges l4, I! of the end sections 10, H.

Means is provided for maintaining the tubular body section in assembled position as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and with the lower end pressed firmly against the flange ll. This means comprises two or more collar screws 25 threading into the lower end section, with the collars overlapping the lower edge of the tubular casing 23. In the event the tubular body section 23 should become seized on the end sections, the upper end section In is provided with one or more bosses 26 threaded to receive the screws 21. The bosses 25 and screws 21 are so arranged relative to the tubular casing 23 that the ends of the screws 21 contact the upper edge of the casing, and as the screws 21 are tightened the casing is moved downwardly toward the bottom section II.

It will be observed that the structure thus far described makes the housing of minimum weight and of maximum strength. Also, the flanges l5, l1 and the bores in the ends of the tubular casing 23 require a simple machining operation inasmuch as all these surfaces are cylindrical, and it will be further observed that when the tubular casing 23 is sleeved downwardly, as indicated by dotted outline Figure 2, the entire interior of the housing is accessible permitting the switches It to be readily and conveniently installed and connected to the electrical conductors.

One or both of the end sections l0, Il, may be provided with conduit receiving passages as hubs 30. If the lower end section is connected to a conduit as 3!, the supporting bracket 32 for the conduit will act as a stop or rest for the tubular casing 23 when in its lowered position.

The conduit line 3i may be provided with a conventional sealing fitting 33 in which sealing compound is introduced to seal ofi the conduit run from the interior of the fitting.

In order to prevent accidental or unintentional removal of the tubular body section 23 while the switches l6 are in on position, the lower end section I I is provided with a sliding member 35, the outer end of which, when the member is in out position, overlaps the lower end of the tubular casing 23, as indicated in Figures 1 and 3. The inner end of the slide member 35 is cooperable with the rock shaft 18. The rock shaft I8 is provided with flattened sides 36, and the inner end of the slide member 35 is provided with a groove which is of such width as to permit the slide member 35 to be moved inwardly when th fiattened sides 36 of the shaft l8 are arranged parallel with the sides of the slot 31 and member 35. However, when the flattened sides 36 extend crosswise of the slot 31, the member 35 may not be retracted from its outer position. The member 35 is slidably mounted on the lower side of end section 10 by means of screws 38 which may be of the break-neck type to prevent removal of the slide 35 after the fitting is put in service.

If the conduit bracket 32 is located relatively, as shown in Figure 2, the upper end of the body section 23 covers the switch actuating mechanism when the body section is removed, as shown by dotted outline in Figure 2. This prevents accidental operation of the switches l8 while the interior of the housing is exposed.

What I claim is:

1. An explosion resisting switch housing comprising an end section provided with a depending annular flange, a second end section, means connecting the second end section to said first section in axial alinement therewith, said connecting means also comprising a switch support, said second end section being provided with a tapered peripheral surface, a tubular casing sleevable over said second end section and being provided at one end with a bore to receive the flange of said first section, and at the other end with a tapered bore complemental to the periphery of said second end section, and means operable to eflect axial movement of the casing relative to the end sections to bring the end portions of the casing into engagement with said end sections.

2. An explosion resisting switch housing comprising an end section having an outer cylindrical surface, a second end section supported from said first section in spaced apart relationship thereto and in axial alinement therewith, said second end section being provided with an outer cylindrical surface tapering outwardly toward said first section, a tubular casing provided at one end with a bore closely fitting the cylindrical surface of said first end section and provided at its opposite end with a tapered bore complemental to the outer tapered surface of said second end section, means associated with said second end section and operable to move said tubular casing axially toward said first section until the end bores of said casing engage the outer surfaces of said end sections, andrmeans operable to move said casing toward said second end section to facilitate removal of the casing from said end sections.

3. An explosion resisting switch housing comprising an end section provided with means for attaching the same to a support and being also provided with a depending cylindrical flange, a second end section, supporting members located within the flange of the first section and arranged to support said second section in spaced apart relationship to the first section and in axial alinement therewith, said second section being provided with an upwardly extending annular flange provided with an outwardly tapering surface, a tubular body section provided at one end with a straight bore to receive the flange of said first section and provided at its opposite end with a tapering bore complemental to the tapered surface of said second end section, said connecting members also serving as a switch support, means carried by the second end section and operable from the outside thereof to actuate the switch into on and ofi positions, said tubular casing being sleevable over the second end section toward said first section, and means for detachably securing said tubular body into engagement with said end sections.

JOHN W. HERRICK. 

